I purchased a set of these stop blocks from MLCS. Item #9313 Supposedly they are to slide in a track and make a convenient adjustable stop block for cutting operations. What I found however is that if used the way it is designed, you are going to have to place the stop block on the right side of the blade meaning that your cut off piece is going to be pinched between the blade and the stop creating a kick back problem. Has anyone purchased one of these? I think this was a special purchase of a “design gone wrong” item from China. I’ve written to MLCS and seem to be getting the run around. I would appreciate any comments as to my perhaps not using them correctly. Does anyone else do business with MLCS and remember seeing the email from them offering this item.

Thanks

-- Wood is a gift from God/Nature that maintains its beauty forever via the hand of a woodworker.

I purchased a “Router Circle Jig #9333 ” from them in mid January 2013 and didn’t have any problems. I must not be on their email list since I haven’t received any offers from them. The “2 Piece Flip Stop Set
#9313….........................................$12.95 ” does not have any ratings on it yet so maybe you can be the first. Maybe that might get some attention. Have you tried their “Live help” yet? The only way I ever see it is in an “I’m OFFLINE, Leave message” status.

Sonnyr, I have not checked to see if they put up my review, but in it I stated the same things I mentioned here. If I remember correctly, the offer just indicated cut off operations which would indicate it was to be used on a table saw and that is what I purchased it for. I noticed that the packaging had been altered with a stick on that just gave the words “MLCS Item #9313”. Under that and affixed over the original package verbiage is written ”#120306 STOP BLOCK Use for Double T-Track” I can’t find that “Double T-Track” anywhere. Under that label the original package says, “Powr Tool Guide Stop, USE: Simple stop provides repeatable lingth cuts on many boards for accurate recessing or routing” ???

I thought perhaps it is used to make blind channels on a router, but both the stops are identical and therefore will not crate a right and a left stop for that operation.

I know I could just send it back and get a refund, but for the $12.95, it is not worth the trouble. I exchanged several emails with them but, as I said before, either they could not understand what I was trying to say or they are just trying to get around it. I even mentioned that if someone tries to use that on the right hand side of the blade, they could get hurt by a kickback.

Am I making any sense to you guys?

-- Wood is a gift from God/Nature that maintains its beauty forever via the hand of a woodworker.

Loren, That blue track you used could be the answer. As I said before, the packaging does mention that it is supposed to be used with a “Double Track”. What you used may be what they are talking about. I am going to head over to Woodline to see if I can find it.

Thanks.

Nice set up by the way.

-- Wood is a gift from God/Nature that maintains its beauty forever via the hand of a woodworker.

I’m confused as to what you thought it would do when you bought it, and on what tool? According to the website, it’s on the bottom of an entire page devoted to t-track and accessories. You can purchase their t-track, and their accessories, and make yourself all sorts of jigs. Put a T-Track in a fence for your router table, and you can put these flip-up stops on the t-track. Then you can make stopped dadoes on multiple boards that all stop at the same spot. If you put a t-track on an aux.fence for your tablesaw miter gauge, you can use one of these flip stops to crosscut cut a bunch of different boards to the same length. I can’t picture where on anything with a blade you would put it that would make something pinch. Are you trying to use both of them together? There is a left and a right, but you only use one at a time depending on which direction on which tool you’re coming from. Maybe a pic of what you’re trying to do?

Look at the picture. These stops are made so that the stop has to be on the right side of the workpiece. They won’t work if they are on the left.

The usual use for stop blocks on a table saw is on a crosscut sled or on a miter gauge extension. If you put this stop block on the right, it’s on the waste side and holds the offcut trapped between the blade and the stop. Typically, you use a stop on the left side. You can’t do that with this item.

Of course, I think these stops are too short to be useful on most sleds or miter gauge extensions. The fence height is usually 4” or more. These don’t look long enough to be useful.

You have a better shot using them on a router table, but only to stop the end of the cut. You couldn’t use them to control the start of a cut. You have the same problem with the fence height.

Other than the length, you could use them on a drill press table. Typically you can set the stop on either side for most tasks.

I did look at the picture – there are two stops in the picture and they’re a bookmatched pair, left and right. One for each side of the blade, you flip down or install/use the one you want to use. And on my tablesaw there are two miter gauge slots – one on the right, one on the left of the blade. The right hand side isn’t necessarily the “waste” side. If I drop a miter gauge in the right hand side, the left of the blade is the waste side. If I put the miter gauge in the left-side slot, then the right side of the blade is the waste side. Or am I missing something else?EDIT: They are made to fit in a a t-track, which in turn is installed in a board you provide, at a height you desire to fit your needs. That board is then attached to the front of your miter gauge – so miter gauge height isn’t a limitation. You can also put the t-track on the front lip of a miter sled that you build yourself, or you can put it on the router fence that you built yourself.

Joe…...I understand what you are saying but I think you are not understanding what I am saying. The problem is that there is NOT a right and left stop. They are both identical and can only be used as a stop on the right hand side of the blade. If you use it that way, once the piece is cut throuth it is still against the blade and also against the stop. Yes. I purchased a length of their T-track and the little plastic retainer that should fit between the shoulders of the T-stop slot to keep the flip stop from pivoting, will not fit into the opening of their T-tracks.

Regarding routing stopped dados or slots…..again, there is no left and right Flip Stop. They are both identical. I have made many stopped dados and always use stop blocks with clamps. The key is that there is not a right and a lift. Sorry you are not understanding me, but I appreciate your input.

-- Wood is a gift from God/Nature that maintains its beauty forever via the hand of a woodworker.

Sorry, Joe…......They are identical…..not right and left!!! I’ll approace MCSL again. Maybe this whole thing is as simple as the fact that they were packaged incorrectly. I’ll let you know if I get a response from them.

-- Wood is a gift from God/Nature that maintains its beauty forever via the hand of a woodworker.

It seems to me that whichever side of the blade you place the stop, the piece that is cut off will be between the stop and the blade, so I don’t see the problem (or perhaps there is no solution to the supposed problem).

Picture on website definitely shows a left & right “pair” of stops. Maybe your set got packaged wrong?

peterbb – I think the point is if your miter gauge is in left slot pushing stock then the cut-off would be to the right side between blade and stop. Seems like use the “right side” stop would simply mean putting miter guage in the right hand miter slot. Or, on a full width sled where it wouldn’t matter.

The stop can be used going either way I think… it’s probably bent so you can glue a tape right next toyour t-track and set the stop by setting the edgeof the stop (either end) right on the mark on yourtape.